Media release
Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer
Sunday 19 June 2011

Peace City set to cost over a million dollars

Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer says the public has been misled by the claim that if Auckland Council becomes a ‘Peace City’ the cost to ratepayers is minimal.

“When you factor in all the work that has been done since November, considerable staff time, and all the proposed community events and communication, the cost will likely exceed $1 million for the first 18 months of the Super City,” says Mr Brewer, Councillor for Orakei.

Last week a majority of councillors voted to send the ‘Peace City’ recommendation to the region’s 21 local boards for their feedback. Mr Brewer said board members should not be hoodwinked into thinking that the Peace City status and programme come at little cost.

“Since November ratepayers have been funding staff meetings, workshops with the peace community, an independent facilitator, the writing of reports, and many drafts of the proposed peace declaration. Much resource will also be put into developing and signing off a three-year Peace City action plan to be considered for the council’s 2012-2022 Long-Term Plan. There are also a lot of community activities planned for the coming 12 months.

‘It is proposed that in the 2011/12 year, Council support a ceremony to launch Auckland as a City for Peace and a celebration of the 25th anniversary of New Zealand’s nuclear free status along with appropriate communications, including web presence’.*

“There will also be activities organised across the region such as planting trees for peace and organising cultural peace displays in prominent public spaces, as well as holding a peace festival in a council park. Staff note there is also ‘potential for the Auckland Peace Heritage Walk to be co-ordinated and expanded regionally’*. The council may also get directly involved in the likes of White Ribbon Day.

“Already $40,000 of Peace City funding from the former Waitakere City Council has been brought into the Auckland Council’s draft 2011/12 annual plan. As for funding the difference, it is dismissively claimed that ‘the implementation of the activities proposed for 2011/12 can be undertaken within existing staff resources within relevant departments of council’ which will include ‘reprioritising existing funding’*. To me that means valuable council resources and staff time being taken away from more urgent projects and core business. That comes with a significant cost.

“When you consider all the staff hours on this since the formation of the Super City, now the consultation and reporting with 21 local boards, and all the events and communication planned for the next 12 months, the total cost will probably come to seven figures for the council’s first 18 months. At this particular time when there are so many expectations and financial pressures, ratepayers and the council simply cannot afford such a costly distraction,” says Cameron Brewer.

*Extracts from ‘Auckland As A City For Peace’ report, Item 11, Regional Development and Operations Committee agenda, 16 June 2011.

www.cameronbrewer.co.nz
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